Method and system for providing medical healthcare services

Abstract

A method is provided for ordering over a network one or more tests for a medical condition for a patient, the method including the steps of providing to the user over the network one or more tests for the patient that can be selected, allowing a user to select over the network one or more tests, determining whether a constraint exists on ordering any of the selected tests; ordering the selected tests over the network, obtaining a result of each of the ordered tests, and providing an automated evaluation based upon feedback resulting from the ordered tests. Using the methods and systems described, a user, such as a physician, can easily obtain information over a network about a large number of tests and order any of the tests over the network. The server can also obtain payment and related information from the user at the time the one or more tests are ordered.

1 . A method for selecting over a network one or more tests for a medical condition for a patient, the method comprising: 
 providing to the user over the network one or more tests for the patient that can be selected;    allowing the user to select over the network one or more tests;    determining whether a constraint exists on ordering any of the selected tests;    ordering the selected tests over the network;    obtaining a result of each of the ordered tests; and    providing an automated evaluation based upon feedback resulting from the ordered tests.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including providing a report based upon the automated evaluation.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  in which the step of determining whether a constraint exists includes evaluating whether a different lab or radiology test is preferable.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  in which the step of determining whether a constraint exists includes evaluating whether a drug the patient is currently taking will cause an interaction with the selected test.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further including the step of determining whether to start or stop a drug, to select drug alternatives, or to change a drug dosage.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  in which the step of providing an evaluation includes providing an evaluation of the one or more tests provided to the user.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  in which the step of providing an evaluation includes providing an evaluation of the constraints of diagnostic algorithms.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  in which the step of providing an evaluation includes providing an evaluation of the user.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  in which the feedback is obtained from the users.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  in which the feedback is obtained from outcome data of the ordered tests.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the steps of: 
 recommending to the user over-the network one or more tests based on a provisional diagnosis of the condition; and    providing to the user over the network an analysis of the one or more recommended tests if more than one test is recommended.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further including the steps of: 
 recommending over the network at least one treatment based on the test results to cure the condition;    identifying whether there is any constraint on ordering the recommended treatment; and    ordering the treatment if no constraint exists for user to obtain the treatment in which the treatment is selected from a medical or surgical procedure, one or more drugs, or a combination thereof.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  in which each of the constraints have a plurality of levels of significance.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of allowing the user to provide an override to order the test if a constraint exists on ordering the test.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further including the step of providing a notification of the override to one or more parties.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  in which the step of determining whether any constraints exist includes comparing a code for the provisional diagnosis with a code for each of the selected tests to determine whether there is any constraint on each of the selected tests.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further including the step of providing to the user a cost analysis of each of the tests if more than one test is recommended.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  in which the user is a physician.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  in which the step of determining whether any constraints exist includes determining whether a test meets guidelines, is ordered too frequently, is obsolete, is FDA approved, is too expensive, or would be ineffective due to a drug the patient is taking.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  in which a constraint is selected from the group of causes of increased follow-up visits, a drug the patient is taking, a drug the patient is not taking, the result of a screening test, an indication or the lack of an indication from a test result or prior diagnosis.  
     
     
         21 . A method for selecting over a network one or more tests for a condition for a patient, the method comprising the steps of: 
 allowing a user to select over the network a first test for the patient;    determining whether a constraint exists on ordering the selected first test;    recommending to the user over the network one or more secondary tests if a constraint exists to obtain the selected first test;    allowing the user to select over the network one of the secondary tests;    ordering the selected secondary test over the network; and    obtaining a result of the selected secondary test.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  in which the step of determining whether a constraint exists includes evaluating whether a test meets guidelines, is ordered too frequently, is obsolete, is FDA approved, is too expensive, or would be ineffective due to a drug the patient is taking.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  further including the steps of: 
 recommending to the user over the network one or more initial tests based on a provisional diagnosis of the condition; and    providing to the user over the network an analysis of the one or more recommended initial tests if more than one initial test is recommended.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further including the step of allowing the user to provide an override to order the selected first test if the test is not covered by insurance.  
     
     
         25 . A system for providing medical healthcare services, comprising: 
 a computer readable medium having computer readable program code for ordering over a network one or more tests for a condition, the computer readable program code executable on a computer system and including instructions for: 
 causing the computer system to allow a user to select over the network one or more of the tests,  
 causing the computer system to determine whether a constraint exists on ordering any of the selected tests,  
 causing the computer system to order the selected tests over the network,  
 causing the computer system to obtain a result of each of the selected tests, and  
 causing the computer system to provide an evaluation based upon feedback resulting from the ordered tests.  
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  in which the computer readable program code further includes instructions for causing the computer system to obtain payment for a test if a constraint exists on ordering the test.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25  in which the computer readable program code further includes instructions for causing the computer system to provide one or more final diagnoses for the condition based on the result of each of the selected tests.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25  in which the computer readable program code further includes instructions for causing the computer system to allow the user to provide over the network an override to order the test if a constraint exists on ordering the test.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  in which the computer readable program code further includes instructions for causing the computer system to provide a notification of the override to one or more parties.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25  in which the computer readable program code for causing the computer to provide an evaluation based upon feedback includes computer readable program code for causing the computer system to provide an evaluation of the one or more tests provided to the user.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25  in which the computer readable program code for causing the computer to provide an evaluation based upon feedback includes computer readable program code for causing the computer system to evaluate whether a drug the patient is currently taking will cause an interaction with the selected test.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 25  in which the computer readable program code for causing the computer to provide an evaluation based upon feedback includes computer readable program code for causing the computer system to provide an evaluation of the one or more tests provided to the user.  
     
     
         33 . A server for providing medical healthcare services, the server comprising: 
 a computer including a processor and computer readable program code executable on the processor for ordering over a network one or more tests for a condition, the computer readable program code configured to: 
 allow a user to select over the network one or more of the tests,  
 determine whether a constraint exists on ordering any of the selected tests,  
 order over the network the selected tests,  
 obtain a result of each of the selected tests, and  
 provide an evaluation based upon feedback from the ordered tests.  
   
     
     
         34 . The server of  claim 33  in which the computer readable program code is further configured to obtain payment for a test if a constraint exists on ordering the test.  
     
     
         35 . The server of  claim 33  in which the computer readable program code is further configured to allow the user to provide an override to order a test if a constraint exists on ordering the test.  
     
     
         36 . The server of  claim 33  in which the computer readable program code is further configured to provide a notification of the override to one or more parties.  
     
     
         37 . The server of  claim 33  in which the computer readable program code is further configured to cause the computer system to provide a notification of the override to one or more parties.  
     
     
         38 . The server of  claim 33  in which the computer readable program code for causing the computer to provide an evaluation based upon feedback includes computer readable program code for causing the computer system to provide an evaluation of the user or the one or more tests provided to the user.  
     
     
         39 . The server of  claim 33  in which the computer readable program code for causing the computer to provide an evaluation based upon feedback includes computer readable program code for causing the computer system to evaluate whether a drug the patient is currently taking will cause an interaction with the selected test.  
     
     
         40 . The server of  claim 33  in which the computer readable program code for causing the computer to provide an evaluation based upon feedback includes computer readable program code for causing the computer system to provide an evaluation of the one or more tests provided to the user.  
     
     
         41 . The server of  claim 33 , further including a database that includes information about patients' historical data.  
     
     
         42 . The server of  claim 33 , further including a database that includes information about decision support guidelines.  
     
     
         43 . The server of  claim 33  in which the computer readable program code is further configured to: 
 collect user feedback; and    modify the recommended tests based upon the user feedback.    
     
     
         44 . A method for selecting over a network one or more procedures for a medical condition for a patient, the method comprising: 
 providing to the user over the network one or more procedures for the patient that can be selected;    allowing the user to select over the network one or more procedures;    determining whether a constraint exists on ordering any of the selected procedures;    ordering the selected procedures over the network;    obtaining a result of each of the ordered procedures; and    providing an automated evaluation based upon feedback resulting from the ordered procedures.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  in which the step of determining whether a constraint exists includes the step of reviewing a plurality of rules.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  in which the rules are divided into categories of rules.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  in which the step of reviewing the plurality of rules includes reviewing only some of the categories of rules to expedite the step of determining whether a constraint exists.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44  in which the procedure is a test and the test includes a screening HIV antibody test.